A pennant race in the MLB can be affected by guys you have never even heard of. We’ve seen it happen before, and I’m sure it will happen again this season.
Starting on September 1, teams all around the league will reward minor leaguers with the opportunity to help the team out on the big league level. The list may include young phenoms, former stars, and underdogs who never were supposed to make it. Any of these players can impact an entire pennant race.
Think back to 2002. In the thick of the Wild Card race, a fire-balling reliever and slap-hitting speedster by the names of Francisco Rodriguez and Chone Figgins helped the then-Anaheim Angels reach the Playoffs and, evidently, win the World Series in seven games.
Or in 2008, when Tampa Bay called up David Price, who became a lights-out reliever en route to the Rays reaching the World Series.
Players with even minimal roles can impact the league in September. Who will be this year’s unlikely heroes, helping teams win pennants and improving records? Let’s find out.